Starting this sticky thread where we all can collate the taxi drivers used on our Ladakh trips including Srinagar to Leh journey, Ladakh Sightseeing and then Leh to Manali journey. I will keep updating the list from various parts of the forum where other members mention the drivers and their contacts and one can also keep replying to this thread with their recommendations. Please provide direct contact of driver NOT any travel agent as the vision of DoW Community is to directly benefiting the Himalayan life separating the middle men as far as we can...

DoW Community already have a list of few recommended drivers in the Leh - Ladakh Taxi Union Rate List of 2016 - 17 article at the DoW Blog link: Leh Ladakh Taxi Rates 2016 – 17. I am copying that list here as well and we all know that, directly getting in touch with these drivers we can get about 10-15% of discount and of course, talking in person rather on phone always help in bargaining more.

You can use the Leh - Ladakh taxi drivers for Ladakh sightseeing and then drop to either Manali or Srinagar. They are not allowed to pick up tourists from Srinagar or Manali but if any of them happen to be around there, they will more than happy to pick you with pre-fixed tie up over phone and pickup point. This can save good amount of money as they will offer you discounted prices. This is very much true for other directions as well that is from Leh to Manali and Leh to Srinagar. So, you can get in touch with Srinagar or Kargil drivers to save money for a drop to Srinagar from Leh and similarly tie up with Manali taxi drivers around in Leh to save money over Manali - Leh Highway. Read the article at DoW Blog for more details: Cheap private taxi to Leh – Ladakh | A Myth or A Reality?

Please note "No where else in the world you will find more smiling and helpful people as Ladakhis are :)"

Happy Traveling, Happy Hunting to Save Money ....

List of Taxi Drivers for Leh - Ladakh SightseeingThese taxi drivers services can be used for complete sightseeing within Leh - Ladakh as taxis outside Ladakh are not allowed to roam inside Ladakh. They can only be used for drop into Leh:

Rigzin – 09622954779, 9469472772 (he know me personally and being more of a friend, he might help arrange some alternative in case he is busy or booked already in the season) Best person to get hold off in Ladakh... so don't miss the opportunity as traveling with this jovial soul is an experience in itself... He has now two Aria, one Scorpio and a Xylo. His son has also started driving to support him now. No trip of mine is completed without traveling with him in Ladakh... One hell of an amazing person I will say and a great friend too !!There goes my friend Rigzin along with his mean machine

Rigzin, my dearest friend from Ladakh

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Chamba – 09596979829 / 09906999808. Very very nice and humble person. Knows DoW and me pretty well, so you can for sure expect a god discount. Respect the things we are doing for spreading smiles, cares for every single person who travels with him. A bit shy but he will do whatever possibly best when you refer DevilOnWheels being a big follower of us ... I hope that is more than enough to recommend him ... Now have a Tempo Traveler too which you can book through him.

Chamba with his family

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Sonam Angdus: His phone numbers : 09469272773. More like Rigzin and Chamba, Sonam jis has been associated with Devil On Wheels for long time and have been to all our mega meets alongside Rigzin. He knows me and DoW very well and always happy to support all the members of Devil On wheels by any means he can. He is ex-serviceman, one of the best persons you will come across in Ladakh and his company will keep you soothing & safe. Never gets frustrated with many stops, always smiling and helpful. He runs a Xylo and is a very very safe companion. In case you get his availability, don't feel hesitant to book him for the tour

Karma Sonam: His phone numbers are :09419215110 (bsNL postpaid) , 09906991011 (Airtel prepaid). His email id is karmasonam947@gmail.com. He speaks in English and Hindi nicely. Detailed Review is here and here and here and here and here

Rigzin Stakna 09622951113 & 09419349082. Excellent human being with a great sense of humour and comic timing along with great driving skills. He is an excellent human being, very down to earth and very lively! He is a very good driver and knows in/out of every route. He is very punctual, he will arrive 10-15 minutes before the agreed time. (detailed feedback here) and here and here and here and here

Rinchen (09419819521 , 09622954831). Rinchen is a hassle free driver and has a friendly demeanor. He knows a lot about Leh's culture and keeps you engaged as well.. Detailed feedback here

Abbas (not same as below) – 09622971759, 09469271786. Reliable, Courteous and Flexible. Abbas is a role model - an absolute benchmark with all the right skills and competencies that you look for in a driver. Detailed feedback by Ritu here

Sonam – 09419371012

Abbas – 09622998367

Stanzin Angchuk – 09469626990

Thendup – 09622992347

Saleem Mir - 9419842881, 9596660880. He is driving for last 7 years and runs an Innova 2012 model. He is a driver cum guide.

Smanla – 09469049594, perfect gentleman, very very down to earth, he knows every curve of Ladakh with 27 years of exp as per the post here

Thinley – 09797313132, very very humble , well mannered , knowledgeable & simple person, He drives his own vehicle - Relatively New Xylo, as per the post here

Ali – 09419853648 or 9874221442, one of the nicest persons I have seen. Very polite and humble as per the post here and (feedback here )

Tracey/Tashi – 09906305546, our driver (not the one mentioned above) was very good. Showed us many places which was not on Itinerary, told us folklore, very patient and humble as per the post here

Jigmit Stopgyas: 094-19-56674 and 096-22-992302. Trustworthy, reliable and great driver for exploring amazing Ladkah. He owns a Mahindra vehicle and has pretty good sense on driving rough areas. Read more here

Kifayat - 9622979472 - Cousin of Zakir. Very patient guy and careful driver. Doesn't talk much, but is a gentleman. He is from Leh and claims to have 10 years experience. (feedback here)

Ringzing Norboo - 9469453680 - Very helpful chap and good driver. Explained all the local details such as the monasteries and dressing of people of various regions. He is from Nubra Valley and claims to have 15 years experience. (feedback here)

Kunchok - 09419269479. A true gentleman he drives his own Xylo and knows every bit of this route and offbeat places inside out. See the picture and detailed review here

Mr. Tsewang :-- 094 19 979141. He has three vehicles (innova only). Got very good deal from him. He was most friendly person. On the event of Chakka jaam , we were stucked in Leh. He helped us to get Kargil Taxi, as Leh taxi was not allowed on the same day. Complete Feedback here

Rigzen Namgyal (9622950842 / 9419844285). He has 2016 Leh registered Innova, in very good and comfortable condition. Detailed feedback here and here,here and a very detailed feedback

Sonam 9419347945 and He has worked for 18 years in Indian Army and thereafter for last 12 years too he has been in this profession. Detailed feedback here

Anwar (Madhosh) - +91-94195-20062 / anwar.madhosh@gmail.com. A government school PET Teacher, hailing from near Turtuk, drives his black Scorpio during season. He smokes sometimes but we all have bad habits, one or the other. You can just ask him to avoid smoking in front of family or when you guys are around. He should be able to oblige. Detailed feedbacks here here and here

Mr Angchuk (Pandit). Phone number is 09622970015. Our driver was awesome. Very polite courteous experienced nice person. His name is Mr Angchuk (Pandit). Phone number is 09622970015. He has a comfortable Xylo. Read feedback here

Stanzin's can be reached at 9469462379, has a brand new Innova. A very sweet, funny and down to earth guy who drives very cautiously. Read feedback here

Padma - 09469217808 and 08492812247. He has a new Scorpio now. Amazing driver, amazing person. Read feedbacks here and here

List of Tempo Travelers Drivers for Leh - Ladakh SightseeingThese tempo travelers can be used for the entire Leh circuit.

Chamba – 09596979829 / 09906999808. Very very nice and humble person. Knows DoW and me pretty well, so you can for sure expect a god discount. Respect the things we are doing for spreading smiles, cares for every single person who travels with him. A bit shy but he will do whatever possibly best when you refer DevilOnWheels being a big follower of us ... I hope that is more than enough to recommend him ... Now have a Tempo Traveler too which you can book through him.

List of Taxi Drivers for Kargil to Padum, ZanskarThese taxi drivers services can be used for a drop Padum, Zanskar Valley from Kargil:

Ansari: 094-69-568527 Nice chap, very helpful and was with devils on DoW Mega Meet 2015 in first taxi. No complaints by anyone in the group.

Jaan: 094-69-732955 Nice chap, very helpful and was with devils on DoW Mega Meet 2015 in second taxi. No complaints by anyone in the group.

Mohd. Abbas: 094-69-249211 Nice chap, very helpful and was with devils on DoW Mega Meet 2015 in third taxi. No complaints by anyone in the group.

Hasan – 09419843703

Gulam Rasul – 09419807087 , 01985-232328/232721

Suroom Singh – 09797389642

Ashu – 09419222992

Gulam Akbar – 09419806358

List of Taxi Drivers for Zanskar Valley SightseeingTaxis outside Padum or Zanskar Valley are not allowed to do sightseeing in Zanskar or around Padum, hence, you need to have local taxi from Padum. As of now we do not have any contact but this list is there to maintain the local drivers from Padum as we come to know about them.

Note: Please share your driver details with us too, it will be helpful for both driver as well as fellow traveler.

Last edited by dheerajsharma14 on Tue Mar 13, 2018 5:11 pm, edited 87 times in total.
Reason:Updated details for Jimmy and Rigzin

We had collected reasonable good informations from DoW & few other details from my friends. Thanks DoW & Mr Dheeraj for amazing work.

We had tried almost all the available numbers: Rigzin, Naseer, Manzoor, Chamba, Dorjey, Tashi (very common name in Ladhak Region, so surname is very important) ..... & many more from Registered Travel Agents in Leh. Few were already booked so did not respond, with few finances did not work out. I was in conversation with 4-5 Drivers for few days.

We personally avoided Srinagar, Kargil & other region Taxis because we want to take the same for Nubra, Pangong & Korzok. We also avoided Taxi other than Inova. We were only looking for local Leh guy & Leh local number Taxi.

Please dont take it otherwise, but this is my personal experience. Ladakh region people are good, nice, honest and reliable as compared to other nearby regions. We already had past good experiences with Leh Guys.

Driver needs to be jolly in nature & should be very patient for mountain journey & travelers like us (many time we took 1-2 hours, just enjoying local food or maggi at local shop & taking halt every 15-20 kms for photo-shot)..... :D

Manzoor (Resident of Leh region) was already booked but he gave reference of his close friend Zakir (Resident of Leh region). Initially, conversations were directly with Manzoor, last few conversations were with Zakir only. Finally, we went for Zakir.

Zakir is 12+ years experienced driver, also worked for Army Services. He has New Innoa - April 2013 Model. Luckily, We & Manzoor's Guest were staying in same hotel in Leh. So for couple of days Zakir & Manzoor both Taxis were together one after the other. Later we went for Korzok.

Both Zakir & Manzoor were really amazing & nice. Manzoor is little shy guy, on other hand Zakir is full of energy and good story teller. His stories were amazing & very funny. He was more like a friends. ......

We had gone to many nomads & tribal's to understand their living, their culture & their Tents (ROOMS within A Room) . Zakir helped us a lot as a good mediator & guide......

Amazing update brother, thanks for sharing it here at DoW. I have updated the list ... If possible, try and share your Himalayan experience with us at the Community as Photo Tale or Travel Tale Or your reviews of the property where you stayed or dhabhas/restaurants you ate food on your trip...

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